Selected quad for the lemma: honour_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
honour_n daughter_n marry_v succeed_v 1,582 5 9.8966 5 false
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A43199 Ductor historicus, or, A short system of universal history and an introduction to the study of that science containing a chronology of the most celebrated persons and actions from the creation to this time, a compendious history of ... transactions ... of the ancient monarchies and governments of the world, an account of the writings of the most noted historians ... together with definitions and explications of terms used in history and chronology, and general instructions for the reading of history / partly translated from the French of M. de Vallemont, but chiefly composed anew by W.J., M.A. Hearne, Thomas, 1678-1735.; Vallemont, abbé de (Pierre Le Lorrain), 1649-1721. Elémens de l'histoire. 1698 (1698) Wing H1309; ESTC R15760 279,844 444

There are 5 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

hundred fourscore and five thousand Men. In his time likewise the King of Babylon sent Ambassadors to Hezekiah who out of Civility shewed them the House of his precious Things and all his Treasury which gave an occasion to Isaiah of prophesying concerning the future Babylonish Captivity Nahum prophecied and comforted the Ten Captive Tribes The Angel Raphael was sent by God to attend young Tobias in the Journey he was to take 3252. 16. Manasses a wicked King succeeded his Father Hezekiah at the age of twelve years and reigned five and fifty years 698 3274. Manasses was taken and carried to Babylon in the two and twentieth year of his Reign But his Affliction made him reflect and humble himself in the sight of God upon which he was brought immediately back to Ierusalem where he reigned three and thirty years more 676 At this time happened the History of Iudith who cut off the Head of Holofernes and delivered the City of Bet●uliah 3307. 17. Amon a wicked King succeeded his Father Manasses and reigned two years after him and was killed treacherously by some of his own Court 643 3309. 18. Iosias a good King at the age of eight years succeeded his Father Amon and reign'd one and thirty years He re-established the Worship of God throughout his Kingdom and exceeded in Virtue all the Kings who had went before him 641 3321. Iosias in the twelfth year of his Reign purged Iudah and Ierusalem from their Idolatry 629 Ieremiah began to prophecy and continued it for the space of near five and forty years Zephaniah Baruch Habakkuk and other Prophets belong to this time 3338. Iosias inconsiderately waged War with Pharaoh Neko King of Egypt wherein he was killed and all the Joy of Iudah was turned into Mourning 612 19. Iehoahaz or Shallum succeeded his Father and reigned three months Neko King of Egypt returning from Assyria deposed Iehoahaz and made his elder Brother Eliakim King in his stead turning his Name into Iehoiakim and carried Iehoahaz along with him Captive to Egypt where he died 3339. 20. Iehoiakim succeeded his Brother and reigned over Iudah eleven years 611 3344. This year Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon took Iehoiakim Captive with an intention to carry him to Babylon afterwards having released him upon very hard Terms he left him at Ierusalem where he remained as his Vassal This Nebuchadnezzar carried away with him part of the Vessels of the Temple with several Children of the Blood Royal and several Persons of Quality among whom was Daniel and his Companions 'T is here we must begin to reckon the Seventy Years of Captivity 606 Daniel begins to prophesy being then very young 3350. Iehoiakim was kill'd by the Babylonians and cast out to be devoured by the Fowls of the Air and the Beasts of the Field 600 21. Iechonias or Iehoiachin succeeded his Brother Iehoiakim and reigned in Ierusalem the space of three months But Nebuchadnezzar carried him away to Babylon with his Mother and the principal Men of his Court among whom were Ezekiel and Mordecai the Uncle of Esther with all the Treasures of Iudah and all the Vessels of the Temple which remained He made his Uncle Mattaniah King and changed his Name to Zedekiah 3350. 22. Zedekiah the last King of Iudah reigned at Ierusalem the space of eleven years 600 Ezekiel began to prophecy the fifth year of his Captivity at Babylon and prophecied to the seven and twentieth year He was descended from the Race of the Priests 3360. In the eleventh year of Zedekiah Ierusalem was besieged taken and plunder'd by the Babylonians Zedekiah was taken in his flight His Children killed before his face his Eyes put out himself bound with Fetters of Brass and carried away to Babylon His Palace was burnt the Temple destroyed the Walls of Ierusalem thrown down and all the People of Iudah led Captive to Babylon where they remained till the year of the World 3419 before Christ 531. 590 Here follows the Succession of the Kings of Israel The State of the Ten Tribes under the Government of Nineteen Kings from the beginning of the Reign of Jeroboam to the end of the Reign of Hosea in whose time they were carried into Captivity by Shalmaneser This State lasted 258 Years Years of the World Years before Christ. 2969. 1. JEroboam the Son of Nobat was made King and reigned over Israel two and twenty years He to strengthen himself and to keep the People from revolting to Rehoboam set up two Golden Calves the one at Dan and the other at Bethel and by this means made Israel to sin 981 In his Reign a Man of God was sent out of Iudah who prophesied against the Altar at Bethel foretold the Ruin of it by Iosiah restored Ieroboam's wither'd Hand and was slain by a Lion for disobeying the Command of God in eating contrary to the Divine Prohibition at the old Prophet's House 2991. 2. Nadab a wicked King succeeded his Father Ieroboam and reigned two years He and all Ieroboam's Family were cut off by Baasha according as Ahijah the Shilonite had foretold 959 2993. 3. Baasha a wicked King succeeded Nadab and reigned over Israel four and twenty years He was engaged in a War with Asa King of Iuda walked in the Sin of Ieroboam and was threatned by Iehu the Prophet the Son of Hanani 957 3016. 4. Elah a wicked King succeeded his Father Baasha and reigned over Israel two years He was killed by Zimri as he was drinking himself drunk in Tirzab 934 3018. 5 Zimri succeeded Elah but was outed by Omri within seven days 932 6. Omri succeeded Zimri killed Tibni who opposed him translated the Royal Palace from Tirzah to Samaria and reigned over Israel twelve years 3029. 7. Ahab a wicked and idolatrous King succeeded his Father Omri and reigned over Israel two and twenty years He married Iezebel the Daughter of Ethbaal King of the Zidonians was a Worshipper of Baal killed the Prophets of the Lord was besieged by Benhadad King of Syria whom he overcame and sent away with Honour Caused Naboth the Iezreelite to be stoned to Death and unlawfully seized on his Vineyard and at last was seduced by false Prophets to go to Ramoth Gilead to Battel where he was slain according to the Word of the Lord spoken by Micaiah the Prophet 921 In this Kings Reign Hiel the Bethelite built Iericho He laid the Foundation thereof in Abiram his First-born and set up the Gates thereof in his youngest Son Segub according to the Word of the Lord which he spake by Ioshua the Son of Nun. 1 King 16.34 3050. 8. Ahaziah a wicked King succeeded his Father Ahab and reigned over Israel two years He was hurt by a fall sent Messengers to Baalzebub the God of Ekron to enquire whether he should recover or no Elijah meets and stops the Messengers denounces the Death of the King and brings Fire from Heaven upon his Messengers 900 3051. 9. Iehoram a wicked King succeeded his Brother Ahaziah and reigned over
leaving his Princess the Daughter of King Charles II. with Child of our present King who was Born Nov. 14. 1650. The Island Iamaica in America taken by the English 1655. Christina Queen of Sweden resigns her Crown and goes to Rome 1654. Carolus Gustavus Duke of Deux-ponts her Cousin succeds her 1654. Alphonsus King of Portugal succeeds his Father 1656. Being Lunatick is confin'd and his Brother made Regent Leopoldus-Ignatius-Iosephus the present Emperor of Germany began to Reign Iuly 22. 1658. Oliver Cromwel dy'd Sept. 3. 1658. A War between France and Spain having lasted 25 Years is at length ended by a Peace concluded in the Isle of Pheasants near the Pyrenean Mountains 1659. After half a dozen Changes of Government in England in one Years time the Rump being by General Monk's Management dissolv'd and a Free Parliament chosen it was resolv'd by the Parliament April 20. That Charles II. was lawful and undoubted King and Messengers immediately sent to Breda to invite him Home 1660. EPOCHA XIV King Charles II. Restor'd the ancient Government and Laws of England Re-establish'd and Europe in a Profound Peace 1660. ANd here we must make a Stand for who can pass so pleasant a Sight as this happy Year gives us of the peaceful State of all Europe without taking a View of the agreeable Prospect In England our celebrated Augustus shuts up the Temple of Ianus and by his happy Influence gives the Muses Liberty and the Merchant Protection Learning and Wit flourish Trade enriches the Nation and a general Joy drives away the Sorrows which the late Tyrannical Usurpation had cast over all the good and honest part of the People The hungry Beggars that had usurp'd the Senate-house were now expell'd and forc'd to refund the sweet Morsels which they had robb'd the King the Clergy and their Fellow-Subjects of under the specious Name of Sequestration In short the King the Laws the ancient Liberty Government and Peace was restor'd and England was made happy In Germany the War which the Emperor King of Poland and Elector of Brandenburg had maintain'd against the King of Sweden was ended that between Sweden and Denmark as also between France and Sweden terminated and finally France and Spain reconcil'd by the Pyrenean Peace and afterwards by the Marriage of the the Infanta to the King So that we may truly call this Annus Pacificus of Europe and compare this with the Augustan Age. May 29 1660. King Charles II. makes his Triumphant Entrance into London it being the Day of his Birth in the Twelfth Year of his Reign and on the 23d of April following was Crowned Leopold Ignatius being at that time Emperor of Germany Philip IV. King of Spain Lewis XIV King of France Alphonso King of Portugal Charles X. King of Sweden Christiern V. King of Denmark Alexius Michaeliwitz Czar of Moscovy Iohn Casimer King of Poland Alexander VII Pope of Rome Franciscus Molino Doge of Venice Ferdinand II. Duke of Florence Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy and finally Mahomet IV. Sultan of the Turks 1661. In France Cardinal Mazarine being dead Mar. 9 1661. that King takes the Government wholly into his own Hands The Dauphin Born Nov. 1. 1661. King Charles of England marries Donna Catherina Infanta of Portugal May 22. 1662. Venner and the Fifth Monarchists make a Riot and bloody Rebellion for a few Days in London 166● The first Dutch War 1665. A raging Pestilence at London 1665. War proclaim'd against France who side with the Dutch 1665 6. A violent Fire which burnt down the greatest part of London 1666. The Dutch at Chatham 1667. A Peace concluded at Breda by England with France and Holland 1667. War betwixt France and Spain 1667. The Theatre at Oxford built by A. Bp. Sheldon 1668. Treaty of Peace between Spain and France at Aix la Chapelle 1668. The City and Island of Candia taken by the Turks 1669. Clement IX Pope 1670. The Duke of Lorrain dispossest of his Dominions by the French 1670. The second Dutch War 1672. The French King invades Holland over-runs the Country and commits very barbarous Ravage 1672. Spain declares against France 1673. A Faction in Holland headed by de Witt taking Advantage of the Prince of Orange's Minority had some Years before this resolv'd no more to admit of a Stadtholder but at this time the miserable State of their Country through the French Tyranny which was carried on because the Dutch wanted some skilful Captain made the People mutiny and oblige the States to restore the Prince to the Dignity and Honours of his Ancestors 1674. Peace between England and Holland 1674. Victor Amadaeus present Duke of Savoy succeeds his Father 1675. Pope Clement X. dies and is succeeded by Benedict Odeschalci who took the Name of Innocent XI 1676. The Prince of Orange comes over to England and marries the Lady Mary our late gracious Queen 1677. Peace concluded at Nimeguen between France and Holland 1678. Also between Spain and France 1678. Also between the Emperor and France The Popish Plot in England discover'd 1678. The Dauphin marries the Princess of Bavaria 1679. The Duke of Burgundy eldest Son to the Dauphin born 1681. Algiers Bombarded by the French 1682. The Czar of Moscovy dying causes Disputes which of the Sons should succeed at length 't was agreed they both should Reign together 1682. War between the Emperor and the Turks Tangier quitted and destroy'd by the English 1683. Vienna Besieg'd by the Turks 60 Days at length Reliev'd and the Siege rais'd with great Slaughter of the Turks by the King of Poland Sept. 12. 1683. Genoa Bombarded by the French 1684. Luxemburg taken by the French 1684. King Charles II. died Feb. 6. 1684 5. and is immediately succeeded by his Brother Iames Duke of York Earl of Argyle Invades Scotland 1685. Duke of Monmouth Invades England 1685. Both defeated and Executed by K. Iames 1685. The Grand Seignior Mahomet IV. being depos'd Solyman III. succeeds him 1687. The French King breaks the Peace with Germany and his Son takes Philipsburg Octob. 1688. The People of England oppress'd by King Iames's Government the Prince of Orange in prosecution of an Invitation to that purpose comes over to England with an Army for their Relief Nov. 5. 1688. King Iames quits the Government and retires privately from Whitehall Dec. 12. 1688. being put ashore at Feversham returns to London Decemb. 1688. The Prince of Orange comes to London and King Iames retires to Rochester 1687. whence he privately departs for France 1688. A Convention or Parliament being assembled they declare William Prince of Orange together with his Princess Mary King and Queen of England Feb. 13. 1688 8. France declares War against Holland Nov. 1688. K. William and Q. Mary Crowned Apr. 21. 1689. England declares War against France May 7th 1689. The Convention of Scotland Resolve to offer the Crown to King William and Queen Mary Apr. 16. 1689. which the Deputies present to him May 16. 1689. King Iames passes from
speak when he does it to the purpose Livy perswades more by his sound Morals than great Capacity For through the various Intrigues Interests Passions and other Disorders which he describes he gives a glimpse of an honest Mind which proclaims a better Man than Historian We see in them the inmost recesses of the Heart of those he describes the very bottom of his own and among the false Lights he discovers in their Conduct he is never out himself He judges well of all for his Soul is as Upright as his Wit is True Livy is the most accomplish'd of all Historians for he has all the great Parts requisite to write History a fine clear Imagination a noble Expression a true Judgment an admirable Eloquence He has none but great Ideas in his Mind he fills his Readers Imagination by what he says by that means he affects the Heart and moves the Soul He has the greatest Genius for History and is one of the greatest Masters of Eloquence that ever liv'd I don't understand what Asinius Pollio means by reproaching him with a Country way savouring of Padua which he calls Patavinity His great Talent is to make People feel what he says by ingaging those that read him in his own Sentiments by inspiring them with his Hopes and Fears and giving them all his Passions by his admirable Art of setting the most secret Springs of the Heart a going I hope the Reader will easily excuse me for dwelling so long upon Livy's History He is the great Master of this Art and deserves to be well known and since no Man can give us a better account of him than Monsieur Rapin I thought it proper to give you this long Abstract V. Velleius Paterculus was nobly born as he proves from those of his Name that had born the greatest Employments in the Army And he had himself been in the Wars with great Honour and Reputation He had been Tribune of the Soldiers and had Travell'd through the Provinces of Thracia Macedon Achaia Asia Minor and on both the Banks of the Euxin Sea so that both by his Employments and Travels he had great advantages to write History The two Books that remain of History for the greatest of his Works are lost begin about the Sixth Year of the Reign of Tiberius and are dedicated to Marcus Vinicius Consul who had Marry'd Tiberius's Grand-daughter His Style is pure clear elegant and such as is thought worthy of the best Age of the Roman Empire There are in his History some particulars not to be found any where else Never did any Man know better than he how to blame and how to commend yet in some Peoples Opinion he goes a little too far in the Praises he gives to the House of Caesar Augustus But how can a Man avoid that Fault when he writes his History before the Eyes of the reigning Family Therefore I easily forgive him the excessive Praises he gives to Tiberius but really he is guilty of too gross Flattery when he bestow'd so much Incense upon Sejanus his Favourite whom he endeavours to make pass for the honestest Man that Rome ever saw Velleius Paterculus is very exact in setting down the Times of the Events he speaks of he describes the Original of several Cities he makes the Eulogy of those that have been famous in the Wars in the Government of the State or in the Sciences in short there 's a great deal to be learnt from that Author Father Rapin speaks thus Paterculus and Florus are florid genteel delicate and agreeable in their mean way of Writing Let Paterculus be pretty trim and genteel in the Character he has pitch'd upon but let Livy be great and serious because small Beauties have need of Ornament to shew themselves whereas the great ones need no Addition to their natural Graces We must always speak within bounds let an Historian never diminish or exaggerate Things either as Tacitus who casts his Venom upon every Thing or Paterculus who makes every Thing look gay and pleasant VI. Quintus Curtius was a Roman Knight the Age he liv'd in is not well known but the most common Opinion is That he flourish'd under the Emperor Vespasian Quintilian who mentions all the Historians of Note in the Tenth Book of his Institutions written in Domitian's Time yet says not one Word of Quintus Curtius's History which induces us to believe That his Work might not have been Publish'd at that Time which Opinion is also confirm'd by the silence of the other Ancients Quintus Curtius has written the History of Alexander the Great in X Books but the two First with the end of the Fifth and some little places of the Tenth have been lost There is not a more excellent Author among the Latin Writers than Quintus Curtius He may be said to be among Historians what Alexander is among Conquerors and that the Panegyrist is to the full as great as his Hero So that Alexander would have now no Reason to complain that he had not like Achilles Homer to celebrate his Actions Some are for Livy's Style others for that of Tacitus but all agree upon the Excellence of that of Quintus Curtius which is beyond all dispute worthy of the Age of Augustus as Vossius speaks Imo vel Augustaeo aevo digna est dictio Iustus Lipsius says that he is the Author that Princes should make themselves most familiar with and that they ought to have him continually in their Hands Let us now consult Rapin's Judgment upon this Author Quintus Curtius says that Critick is shining and florid Nothing can be more Polite than Quintus Curtius he has a florid and gay Expression which extreamly pleases the Men of Wit Every thing ought to be grounded upon Reason and therefore Quintus Curtius is not always in the right When he endeavours to make his Hero so admirable he does not make him take the wisest Resolution but on the contrary the most Heroick and Perillous he always finds a Charm in Danger and cares not so much for Conquests as the Honour of Conquering It is in his Power to surprize Darius in the Night and by that means keep him from knowing how weak he was Darius having double the Men But this great Man who is less sollicitous of getting a Victory than making his Valour to be admired attacks the King of Persia in the broad Day being resolv'd rather to die with Honor than Conquer by a Surprise Darius after his defeat offers to divide Asia with him and proposes a Match between him and his Daughter but Alexander rather chuses to arrive at Glory thro' Dangers than become a Master so peaceably he will hear none of these Proposals and aims at nothing but what 's extraordinary His Historian I must confess does him a great deal of Honor but does not all this great Honor want a little probability Does he not make his Hero more Rash than Wise and more Venturesome than Ambitious He thought those Sentiments
mild enough to be prevailed upon by reasonable Advice till in the latter end of his Reign when the Persian Luxury had debauched him To these natural Qualifications his Father a wise and couragious Prince added an Education that finished this excellent Piece for in his tender years he was commited to the Care and Tuition of Aristotle that great Philosopher by whose Wisdom this Noble Prince was so far improved that An Philippo Patri aut Aristoteli magistro plus debuit Alexander is become a common Subject of Declamation in the Schools When he was but a Youth visiting his Father's Stables he saw the Horse Bucephalus whom when by reason of his fierceness none of the Grooms durst venture to ride he undertook to tame and leaping upon his Back rode him round the Ring his Father surprized and delighted with the Courage of his Son ran to him and with Kisses and Embraces bad him seek some larger Territories for Macedon was too straight to contain so great a Soul At the Age of 18 years he shewed a wonderful Courage in the Battel of Cheronesus against the Athenians wherein some say he saved his Father's Life and gained the whole Honour of that Expedition His Father Philip after he had gained many signal Victories in Greece was preparing for an Expedition into Persia but was hindred in it by Death being killed by Pausanias at the Wedding of his Daughter Cleopatra about the year 3615 and was succeeded by his Son Alexander who was at that time about 20 years of Age. Alexander to follow his Father's Example went to Peloponnesus and caused all the Confederated Cities of Greece to meet at Corinth where by the Consent of all except the Lacedomonians he was chosen Generalissimo of the Army raised against the Persians Soon after this viz. in the Spring of the year 3617 he marched through Thrace and made Incursions into the Country of the Triballians and Illyrians He had a bloody Engagement upon the Banks of the Danube and therein defeated Sirmus the King of the Triballians Upon occasion of this Battel a Report ran that Alexander was beaten which Demosthenes corrupted with Persian Gold so inculcated at Athens that the People believed it and Revolted But Alexander soon convinced them of their Mistake for having finished his Work by the Reduction of those Barbarians he returned to Greece and the Athenians were wise enough to beg his Pardon and obtained it but the Thebans despising his Threats were be sieged their City taken and ras'd to the Ground except the House of Pindar which Alexander caused to be saved and gave it to the Posterity of that excellent Poet. And now having satisfied his Honour and Revenge Alexander again bethinks himself of his Persian Expedition and passing into Peloponnesus he was again declared Commander of the Forces raised for that Service 'T was in this Journey that he gave a Visit to Diogenes the Cynick at Corinth and soon after the return from it that in a Dream he saw the High-Priest of Ierusalem who Exhorted him forthwith to go to the Conquest of the Persians wherein he assured him of Success And now all things being prepared Alexander gave away the Government of his Dominions to his Friends distributing to some Villages to others Boroughs and to others Sea-Ports and Territories and reserving little or nothing Perdicas asked him What he kept for himself To which he answered Hope And now leaving Antipater chief Administrator he set forward for Asia having 60 Long-Ships to transport his Army which consisted of 40000 Men whereof Parmenio was made Commander of the greatest part When he came into Asia he visited the Tomb of Achilles from whom on the Mother's side he was descended He said Achilles was doubly happy in having such a Friend as Patroclus during his Life and such a Panegyrist as Homer after his Death After this he passed the Granicum a River in Phrygia where he met with Darius at the Head of 100000 Foot and 20000 Horse drawn up in a Line of Battel The two Armies joined and a very sharp Engagement happened between them The Persians lost 20000 Foot and 2000 Horse and about as many more were taken Prisoners Darius and his Army which appeared so formidable were put to flight and Alexander gain'd this Victory with the Loss of only 100 Men. By this means an Avenue was opened into Asia and Alexander marched to Sardis the Capital City of Lydia which the Governor surrender'd to him with all the Treasures that were therein From thence he marched to Ephesus where he put an end to the Oligarchical Government of that Place and established Democracy in its stead After this he took Miletum by Storm which was a very strong Town and famous for the Colonies it sent out to the Neighbouring Islands But Halicarnasseus which stood out against him to the last Extremity was by his Orders demolished In a word within the compass of a year he became Master of all Phrygia Lydia Pamphylia Pisidia Paphlagonia and Cappadocia Years of the World Years before Christ. 3617. This Year Alexander signaliz'd by his second Victory over Darius in the Battel of Issus in which Engagement he received a Wound in his Thigh that hinder'd him from meeting with Darius whom he intended to have killed with his own Hand The Persians according to Iustin's Account were 400000 Foot and 100000 Horse But Quintus Curtius does not reckon above half so many In this Battel the Persians lost 100000 Foot but others say only 50000. Let the Loss be more or less Darius was put to flight and that he might not be discovered threw away his Imperial Mantle That which went deepest to the Heart of this unfortunate Prince was that his Mother Sisigambis his Wife Statira his two Daughters and his Son not above 6 years old were taken by the Conqueror But Alexander used them always like Queens paid them great Respect and for their Comfort assured them that Darius whom they supposed to be dead was still alive 333 Immediately upon this Victory Alexander sent Parmenio to make sure of Damascus the Capital City of Syria where Darius left incredible Riches and all the great Women and Princesses of Persia. The Governor without any Ceremony betrayed the City to him but Alexander was so just as to punish the Traitor and sent his Head to Darius as a Present There were 7000 Horse-Loads of Treasure in the place which amounted to the Value of above ten millions Sterling He marched into Syria where he deprived of their Estates all those who made any Opposition against him Biblus in Phenicia and Sidon were some time before they would surrender to him but were at length reduced and the Kingdom of Sidon bestowed by Hephestion Alexander's Favourite on Abdolominus a Gardiner who lived in the Suburbs of that City He subdued all Syria and Phenicia except Tyre which held out 7 months but at last was taken and 2000 of its Inhabitants hanged on the Sea-Coast He took Gaza
by and begin our Account with him Years of the World Years before Christ. 2525. The State of the Thebans under XIV Kings which lasted 295 Years 1425 1. CAdmus was the first King of the Thebans The Grecians tell us that he was the Son of Agenor who sent him and his other two Brothers in quest of their Sister Europa whom Iupiter had ravished forbidding them to return unless they brought their Sister with them That Cadmus at last after many fruitless Journeys came into Boeotia where despairing of ever meeting with his Sister being admonished by the Oracle he built or as 't is most probable repaired Thebes and added a Fort to it which from him was called the Cadmean Fort That he married Harmonia the Daughter of Mars and Venus of whom he had one Son named Polydorus and four Daughters Semele Ino Autonoe and Aga●e That he at last warred against the Illyrians conquered and reigned over them leaving the Kingdom of Thebes to be governed by his Son Polydorus This is the Account which the Grecians give us of Cadmus But thô they in Honour to him say he was a King's Son yet the Sidonians his Countrymen deny it and affirm that this Cadmus was only the King's Cook and that he ran away with a certain Musick-Girl called Harmonia His coming into Greece was about the same time that Ioshua governed Israel so that it may be very justly supposed that he carried a Colony of the Canaanites whom Ioshua had expelled into Greece Whether this or the other Account be truest we shall not here stand to determine thô upon very weighty Reasons the latter seems to be most probable However most agree that this was the Man who first brought Letters into Greece from Phenicia 2. Polydorus succeedded his Father married the Daughter of Nycteus by whom he had one Son Labdacus whom at his Death he left to the Care of his Father-in-Law 3. Labdacus succeeded In his time Epopeus the King of Sicyonia ravished Antiope the other Daughter of Nycteus upon which a War broke out between them wherein they both died of their Wounds which they received Upon the Death of Nycteus his Brother Lycus was made Labdacus's Governor who administred the Government so faithfully that Labdacus upon his Death committed his Infant Son Laius to his Care 4. Laiùs succeeded his Father In his Reign his Governor Lycus having punished Antiope according as Nycteus had ordered him was at War with her two Sons Amphion and Zethus and was killed by them in an Engagement Thebes was taken by them and the young Child Laius very narrowly escaped 5. Amphion and Zethus reigned over Thebes Amphion built Walls round Thebes married Niobe the Daughter of Tantalus and Sister of Pelops who having a great many Children boasted that she was a better Breeder than Latona her self which occasioned her to lose them all For Apollo was commanded to kill all the Males and Diana all the Females upon which Niobe was so stupified that the Poets feign she was turned into a Stone Thô this Account is rather Romance than true History yet we thought it would not be amiss to insert it that so our young Reader may have some Light even in the Fictions of the Poets which he may meet with A while after Amphion and his whole Family were cut off by the Plague Zethus pin'd away upon the Death of his Son whom his Wife had unfortunately killed and these Brothers being thus removed the Thebans restored Laius again to the Throne Laius married Iocasta the Daughter of Meneceus by whom he had a Son but the Oracle advising him to beware of him he bound his Feet and exposed him in order to make him away The infant was according to his Order exposed but found by a Shepherd and brought to Polybus King of Corinth He took care of the Child brought him up as his own and cured him of the Swelling which he had in his Feet from whence he was called Oedipus A long time after Laius uncertain what was become of his Son and Oedipus ignorant who were his Parents both went to make their Enquiries at the Oracle In Phocis they met by chance where Laius very roughly commanding him to give the way was killed by his Son whose hot Blood it seems could not brook such rude Provocation 6. Upon the Death of Laius Creon the Brother of Iocasta usurped the Throne till such time as Oedipus did explain the Riddle of the Monster Sphinx For all Travellers who passed by where she sate had the Riddle proposed to them upon these Terms That in case they could not explain it they should be put to Death but whoever did should marry Iocasta and be King of Thebes Oedipus unriddled the Riddle and married his own Mother Iocasta after he had killed his Father Both which he did ignorantly At last a full Discovery was made both of the Murder and the Incest of Oedipus upon which Iocasta hanged her self and he was kept Prisoner by his Sons sent to Athens and there died with King Theseus 7. Eteocles and Polynices the two Sons of Oedipus agreed to reign alternately but Eteocles being once upon the Throne would not let his Brother have his Turn in the Government Upon this Polynices made his Aplication to Adrastus King of Sicyon his Father-in-Law Adrastus to revenge the Affront marched at the Head of an Army and sat down before Thebes After many dubious Skirmishes it was agreed That the two Brothers should determine the Quarrel by fighting a single Duel They accordingly fought and killed each other but did not put an end to the Contest for a sharp Engagement followed wherein the Soldiers of Adrastus were cut off and himself rid away full speed for his Life 8. Laodamas the Son of Eteocles succeeded but being in his Minority Creon the Brother of Iocasta was his Governor Within ten years after the Sons of those who were cut off in the last Battel to revenge themselves upon the Thebans raised another War wherein Thebes and Laodamas were taken 9. Thersander the Son of Polynices set up by the Victors who leading the Beotians against Troy was slain by Telephus in Mysia 10. Pencleus made King by the Beotians but engaging with Euryphilus the Son of Telephus was slain in the Battel 11. Tisamenus the Son of Thersander succeeded 12. Damasicthon the Son of Opheta and Nephew to Pencleus 13. Ptolemeus succeeded 14. Xanthus the last King of Thebes was killed in a Duel by Melanthus the Messenian With him ended the Kingdom of Thebes which was turn●d into a Common-wealth in the year of the World 2820 before Christ 1130. But still the Thebans had a great Share both in the Intestine and Foreign Wars with which Greece was engaged as appears in the Accounts we have given of Athens and Lacedemonia CHAP. XV. Of the Macedonians THE Kingdom of Macedonia or Macedon so called from Macedon the Son of Osiris or as some say from Iupiter and Aethra was bounded on the West